Join IRMA and Partners for Dynamic Microbicides 2012 Advocates’ Pre-conference!

Please join us for this dynamic pre-conference….


Advocacy in a New Prevention Landscape:

BUILDING OUR KNOWLEDGE AND CAPACITY FOR EFFECTIVE ADVOCACY
AROUND HIV PREVENTION RESEARCH AND IMPLEMENTATION


Timing: Sunday 15 April 2012, 0830 to 1600
Venue: Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour, Sydney

 

M2012 offers new opportunities and challenges to advocates across the world involved and/or interested in advocacy around microbicides and other HIV prevention research and rollout. We have new tools to consider in HIV prevention with the exciting results from PrEP and treatment as prevention trials - and yet confusing results from the early termination of the FEM-PrEP trial and the microbicide gel and tenofovir tablet arms of the VOICE study. What does this mean for communities and how does it affect the work we do as advocates?

The African Microbicides Advocacy Group, AVAC, the Global Campaign for Microbicides, IRMA (International Rectal Microbicides Advocates), the New HIV Vaccine & Microbicide Advocacy Society and local Australian partners ACON and AFAO will hold a day-long pre-conference workshop on Sunday, April 15. The M2012 Advocates' Pre-Conference Workshop will begin at 08:30 and conclude by 16:00, ensuring participants have ample time to get to the M2012 opening ceremony. The workshop will be held at the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre, and lunch will be provided.


The goal of the workshop is to equip new and experienced advocates, community representatives, trial staff and others with the tools needed to fully participate in the M2012 Conference by:

• Providing an overview of the field to contextualize the themes and issues presented at M2012;

• Connecting research and advocacy priorities and exploring common goals;

• Building capacity of advocates and trial staff to better engage with emerging issues in the field.


The pre-conference workshop will feature seasoned advocates and researchers from the HIV prevention research field who will provide participants with updates and previews to topics to be presented at the conference. An array of thematic discussion and skills-building sessions will be conducted including an update on key issues in the field, influencing relevant country policies and processes, prevention research literacy and ethics, and training on advocacy and campaign building.


Registration for this workshop is free for all interested participants but has limited space so registration will be offered on first-come first-served basis.


Registrations will be accepted through 23 March 2012 or until we have reached capacity.


To register – please fill this registration form at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/39SPS5P. If you have any questions or having problems with the registration form, please write to M2012AdvocatesPrecon@gmail.com.


Organizers: AMAG, AVAC, GCM, IRMA and NHVMAS with Australian Partners ACON and AFAO


[If an item is not written by an IRMA member, it should not be construed that IRMA has taken a position on the article's content, whether in support or in opposition.]

Meet a Friendly Rectal Microbicides Advocate: Mariama Kamara

via IRMA


Kamara is the Operations Manager for the African HIV Policy Network (APHN), an alliance of African community-based organizations and their supporters that are working for fair policies for people living with HIV/AIDS in the UK. As the only African organization in the UK whose work is dedicated to policy, advocacy and national and international representation, the APHN provides training, support, research and information focused on HIV and sexual health among Africans in the UK.

“I think that rectal microbicides are important because individuals need different options that have the potential to strengthen HIV Prevention efforts by enabling women and men to choose from and use a wide range of methods to protect themselves from contracting HIV and other STIs.”

Kamara, a native of Sierra Leone, first encountered IRMA via the UK African Microbicides Working Group; a group of individuals from several UK HIV organizations that are working to accelerate the ethical development and global delivery of microbicides and other HIV prevention options. The Working Group stays abreast of current issues in microbicide development by hosting ‘buzz cafes,’ one of which is featured on the IRMA blog, and by engaging with scientists and the media.

When she's not fighting HIV/AIDS, Kamara loves to travel and meet new people, or spend time with family and friends.

Read about other friendly rectal microbicides advocates

Learn more about IRMA membership

[If an item is not written by an IRMA member, it should not be construed that IRMA has taken a position on the article's content, whether in support or in opposition.]

UK's Buzz Cafes get distinction at IAS conference

[Click image to enlarge]

The UK African Microbicides Working Group submitted an abstract on 'Experiences of the Buzz Cafe in Microbicides Advocacy in the United Kingdom' at the 5th International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention held in Cape Town, South Africa between the 19-22 July 2009.

The abstract was accepted for a poster presentation and was presented by Eunice Sinyemu and Titise Kode. It was selected by the Scientific Programme Committee for distinction based on merit.

The Buzz Cafes have been a great success. As reported previously by IRMA, one of them focussed on rectal microbicides.

Congratulations to the UK African Microbicides Working Group!

Buzzzzzz --- Rectal Microbicides!

by Mariama Kamara (African HIV Policy Network, UK)

and Dr. Carolina Herrera (St. George’s University, London, UK)

Our third Buzz Café ( hosted by the UK African Microbicides Working Group on December 4) focused on rectal microbicides and the possibilities of having a rectal Microbicides before a vaginal one. The topic in itself is quite controversial but it was a space for advocates to discuss and enhance their knowledge of rectal microbicide research and development. Anal intercourse is increasingly understood as a more common practice amongst heterosexuals. Dr Carolina Herrera from St George’s University shared information about their recent research findings on rectal microbicides and what they have accomplished over the past four years.

To date the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and amfAR have funded for the first time, projects aiming to develop rectal microbicides and efforts to understand colorectal transmission of HIV. The laboratories of Professor Robin Shattock and Martin Cranage at St. George’s, University of London have been involved in both projects.

A laboratory model of the colorectal tract based on little pieces of tissue, known as explants, and obtained from surgery has been developed. This model allows screening of compounds, to test possible combinations of compounds and to determine possible inflammatory responses of the tissue after exposure to compounds and their possible formulations. Furthermore, it gives the possibility to assess the replication capacity of resistant isolates against different compounds and to measure the early responses of the tissue to viral exposure. Understanding the mechanism of HIV-1 transmission in the colorectal tract and determining the best combinations of compounds to inhibit resistant isolates will be key to the design of successful prevention strategies. This funding has allowed the first Phase 1 trial of a reverse transcriptase inhibitor, UC781, in vaginal formulation applied rectally; and next year, another Phase 1 trial will be conducted with PMPA/Tenofovir, again in the vaginal formulation and applied rectally.

The Buzz Café brought together ideas from scientists and advocates about working more closely together and sharing new research ideas to further understanding amongst both groups and contribute to informed advocacy for microbicides research.

The UK is all a-BUZZ about rectal microbicides!

click image to enlarge

As part of its ongoing series of highly successful Buzz Cafés, the UK African Microbicides Working Group is hosting its next event on December 4th. Guest speaker Dr. Carolina Herrera from St. George's University, discussions about participants' role in rectal microbicide advocacy, general camaraderie and (non)caffeinated beverage of your choice are all on the menu!

RSVP your attendance to mariama.kamara@ahpn.org today!